Page 93 of Private Exhibit
Instead, Junior gasped and whirled to face him, his eyes wide.Oh gods, Dad.
Andy looked up, seeing concern and sympathy on his son's face.
Junior slowly looked around.Is that why you were up here? You're back to trying to find a cure?
Andy nodded.
Junior squirmed.Any luck?
Andy shook his head.There's nothing. I've been over it all a thousand times. Reran every test and rechecked every scan.Andy slammed his head back against the wall.I feel so fucking useless!
Junior scooted closer and took his hand.You're not useless. He sat silently for a moment, then quietly asked,Am I allowed to say'language,'old man?
Andy blinked, then burst out laughing.
Junior laughed with him, then gave his hand a squeeze as they slowly fell silent again.I didn't mean what I said, either. You didn't rob me of my life. You did everything you could to save me, and I'm grateful.
I just wish I could have done more.
I'm just thankful we can still have this, Junior said, gesturing at the two of them.
Andy wrapped his son in his arms and pulled him close.Me, too, kid. Me, too.
They sat like that for a long while in silence. Junior only pulled away when Andy's stomach growled. Andy shook his head and looked up at the clock. It was almost four in the afternoon, and he realized he hadn't eaten a thing all day, too wrapped up in work to think about anything else.
Junior excused himself to go check on Jess, so Andy went down to his car and drove home, too keyed up to keep working. He sat back in the driver's seat, scrubbing his hands over his face.Gods. What a day. He couldn't wait to get home. Couldn't wait to see Devon. To hold onto a little piece of life.
The moment he saw the boy, Andy grabbed him and kissed him. He simply couldn't resist.
And he never wanted it to end.
Chapter 33
DEVON COULDN'T stop the moan that escaped him.
Oh my gods. Andy hadn't kissed him like that indays. Hardly kissed him at all. And other than when Andy held him throughout the night, the man had barely touched him other than to bathe him, dress him, or change his diaper.
Andy pulled back with a gasp, pressing their foreheads together and breathing heavily. “Sorry. I couldn't resist.”
Devon whimpered. “Don't stop,” he begged.
Andy shook his head. “I have to. I don't want to get carried away.”
“Please,” Devon gasped. “Daddy? Please, don't stop.” He looked around, making sure Oliver was still out of the room. Oliver had gotten a text and run off, promising he'd be right back. “Fuck me,” Devon blurted out in a whisper.Touch me. Need me. Something. Please, gods. Anything.
Andy sucked in a breath and held it, then shook his head again. “No. It wouldn't be fair.”
“Daddy,” Devon begged, feeling a tightness in his eyes as the urge to cry slowly crept in. “Please. I need to feel you inside me again, while we still have a chance.”
Andy leaned back and looked him in the eyes, studying him. “Can you?”
“What?”
Andy hesitated. “Feel?”
Devon nodded. Whether it was physical or all in his head, he was definitely feeling turned on. That could easily change in the next hour—hells, in the next few seconds—but he needed something regardless. He had to know that Andy still wanted him.
Andy let out a shuddering breath and kissed him again.
